Jan Patocka was a distinctive and significant figure in 20th-century philosophical thought. His writings on phenomenology and the philosophy of history, his political dissidence, and his death in defense of his fellow citizens have made him a heroic figure in his native Czech Republic and beyond. Yet his work remains little known in the Anglophone world. The Selected Writings of Jan Patocka collects his most significant writings, the majority of which are appearing in English for the first time, and gives readers an introduction to the philosopher's key ideas. These include urgent questions about uncertainty, objectivity, the link between philosophy and political engagement, and the meaning of the European-and post-European-project. Patocka's ideas strike at the heart of contemporary debates about freedom, political participation, and responsibility. Book jacket.